COUNTY POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9854, 6 November 1924, Page 5

COUNTY POLL

ROAD IMPROVEMENT LOAN

CARRIED BY OVERWHELAIING

MAJORITY.

1016 TO 18L By an overwhelming majority, the Cook County ratepayers, at the poll yesterday, sanctioned the loan 1 of £153,000 for the reconstruction of roads throughout the County. The proposals embodied formation, metalling and bitumen surfacing of roads, removal .and erection of bridges, purchase of necessary machinery and motor lorries and contingencies. Now the Cook County may be said to be on the right road to good highways. The success which attached to the new loan- scheme was due mainly to the establishment' of the Highways Board and the allocation of heavy subsidies to the County. Much credit is also due, to the energetic campaign conducted by the chairman and members of the Council. The fact that the Council was practically unanimous concerning the benefits that would accrue from the loan also stimulated confidence among the ratepayers who, on the whole, adopted an exceptionally receptive attitude to the scheme. The small number of votes against the loan was significant of the confidence in which the ratepayers hold the Council aud afford a great contrast to the extent of the opposition at the previous poll. The inclement weather interfered, to some extent, with the voting and the polling at some of the country booths, in particular, was not so heavy ’as had been expected. In town, however, the voting was heavy and, by closing time, over 400 votes had been recorded. Complete arrangements had been made in the town and country to convey ratepayers to and from the booths and throughout the day a stream of cars plied all over the Comity. Ratepayers voting at yesterday’s poll were'restricted to a maximum of three votes irrespective of the number of their holdings. This new ruling was given by the Crown Law office. Last year some ratepayers were allowed to exercise ten and up to eleven votes. Seeing that there was so little opposition to the loan-, it was thought that the ratepayers might prove apathetic as regards voting. But that was not so, and it was surprising to find that the polling was equally as heavy, if nor more so, than last year. It is obvious at least that more individual votes were recorded at yesterday’s poll, when the maximum was three votes, than last year, when a ratepayer’s votes were proportionate to the rates he paid on his holdings.; l * The polling commenced at 9 a .ns. and concluded at 6 p.m. and immediately the counting was concluded the results were telephoned to the returning officer '(Mr. H. M. Porter), at the Gisborne booth at tire; Cook County chamber;,. The counting was carried out expeditiously at all booths, and, before 7 p.m., it was obviousthat, the poll had been carried by a large majority. The first results received were from Tahunga, which came to hand at 6.3 p.m., the nextbeing Hexton. while the last figures to come in were Rangaroa No. 2 booth. In only or.e instance were the ■opposition votes greater tho.n these ins favor of the proposals, the voting in that case being at Ngatapa, where there were 12 for and 16 against. YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. Booth. F.or. Against. Hangciroa No. 1 9 9 Harigaroa No. 2 6 0 Hexton 46 1 Makauri 28 27 Alanutuke 68 8 Alatawliero , 77 27

Muriwai 24 0 Ngatapa 12 16 Ormoucl ••••• 64 o Patutalii 101 ' Pehiri 16 0 Reay Bridge 24 J Tahunga 6 1 Tiniroto 40 O Waimata, 24 6 Waionoko .. o 9 O 'Waerenga-,a-liika 33 1 ; > AYaerenga-o-kuri 25 1 AYliarerata • 16 y AVaingake ; 11 0 Gisborne < 872 43» AYlir.iigara 14 9 Tapapouri •’ < 0

Totals 1016 181 Six informal votes were cast at the Gisborne booth. RESULTS OF 1923 LOAN POLL. -Booth. For. Against, Hang-area- 0 0 Hextou 0/ lo Makauri H Manutuke 08 34 Matawliero Flo Ngatapa 13 J Ormond 02 L? Patutahi 49 /4 Pelt in 0 -/ Tiniroto 1® Tiniroto ly ? Reay Bridge 24 0 Tahung.i 14 0 Tata pour.i 3 *j Waimata “ Wa or en g a-a-luka 11 Waerergga-o-ku.Ti 20 <> Waingake ‘ W-hangara y co Wharerata .. i'. Cook County Office ... 41/ 1/1

.921 744 Votes Disallowed 11 79

Total 910 665 COUNTY CHAIRMAN PLEASED. WORK TO START AS SOON AS ' POSSIBLE. pq chairman of the Cook County Council (Mr G. M. Reynolds) was naturally gratified at the result and, in conversation with a ‘'Times” representative expressed 'his pleasure at the overwhelming majority which the ratepayers had recorded m favor of the, rjrorrosals.* In this winy they had registered their approval and conh-dcnc-e of the Council’s policy. C'orfeitier ing each ratepayer had a maximum of three votes this time, lie said, whereas last year some voters had as manv as ten ,and eleven votes, the polling was equally as heavy if not heavier than at the last poll. In fact, it was fairly obvious that more individual votes must have been' recorded this time and lie was glad to say they had n bigger majority .than he expected “We will now” lie socied “cr 0 ri"ht ahead with the metalling from Turihau to Pakarae on the Mam Coast road, the metalling of the Hangaroa roads and with any othci voik for which Government grants are immediately available. With the financial assistance and co-operation whnm the Highwavs Board is offering, there should he 10 miles of metalling dor* on the Main Coast road this year, which means that there will be a metHied road right through and for smr.e miles pest the Whangani Hotel The principal reason I era ascribe to the sanctioning of the loan is thdt the people ' ere regaining! their financial footing and have come to the roe. Ration that good roads are necessary.